Barcelona vs Real Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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The first El Clasico of the season could see Barcelona go nine points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga as the Blaugrana welcome Los Blancos to Camp Nou.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / USA – ESPN+
Barcelona preview: Beaten at last
Barcelona head into the Clasico on the back of their first defeat of the season as they were beaten by back-to-back European champions Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes, losing by four goals to two in the UEFA Champions League.
Lamine Yamal scored a second equaliser on the night for Barcelona in the 75th minute of that one and that brought up 50 goals across all competitions for Barca after a relentless 11-match winning streak to kick off their campaign.
Real Madrid preview: Improved midweek
Real Madrid were improved in midweek as they earned themselves a comfortable UEFA Champions League defeat of RB Leipzig at the Bernabeu, winning 4-1 with goals scored by Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe and Yan Diomande.
Jose Mourinho’s second stint in charge of the 15-time European champions has been a stuttering one with Madrid’s performances worse than their still inconsistent results would suggest but they have shown improvement in their last couple of games.
Barcelona team news: Fresh injuries
Barcelona have fresh injuries for this one with Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo are now sidelined for the hosts after the latter was forced off against PSG. Jules Kounde has also picked up an ankle issue and is a doubt for this one, too.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Cancelo, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Alex Balde; Rodri, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Fermin, Gordon; Raphinha
Unavailable: Eric Garcia (Injured), Dani Olmo (Injured), Bardghji (Injured)
Questionable: Christensen (Fitness), Kounde (Injured)
Real Madrid team news: The blessing in disguise of suspended Vinicius
There is a feeling that the suspension of Vinicius Junior may well aid Madrid with his lack of form and now a clearer identity and idea of what they want to go. Yan Diomande, club-record signing, has also begun to find some form in the last few weeks, too.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Dumfries, Konate, Dean Huijsen, Cucurella; Fede Valverde, Silva; Guler, Bellingham, Diomande; Mbappe
Unavailable: Raul Asencio (Injured), Rodrygo (Injured), Vinicius Junior (Suspended)
Questionable: Mendy (Fitness)
Key stats
- Barcelona have won all nine La Liga games this season, scoring 39 and conceding nine. It is the best start after nine games of any team in La Liga since 1997/98.
- Barcelona have won 23 consecutive La Liga home games, dating back to September 2025, and won all 19 home games last season.
- Barcelona have scored in 35 consecutive home La Liga games and in 11 consecutive games overall.
- Barcelona's matches have averaged 5.33 goals this season.
- Real Madrid are 3rd with 21 points and have won eight consecutive home games, but have lost two of four away games this season (0-1 at Betis, 1-2 at Atlético).
- Real Madrid have conceded in four consecutive away games.
- Since 1997/98: P58, Barcelona W26 D13 Real Madrid W19. Barcelona's home record is W13 D9 L7.
- Barcelona have scored in 12 consecutive Clásicos and won the last two at home (4-3 in May 2025, 2-0 in May 2026).
- A year ago (26 October 2025) Real Madrid won 2-1 at the Bernabéu.
- The biggest win in the Clásico since 1997/98 is Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid (November 2010); the highest-scoring is Real Madrid 2-6 Barcelona (May 2009). Meetings average 3.34 goals.
- On this day in 2014 (25 October), Real Madrid beat Barcelona 3-1 at the Bernabéu.
- Alberto Undiano refereed eight Clásicos, the most of any referee since 1997/98.
Statistics are La Liga only (not all competitions)
Barcelona vs Real Madrid prediction
Prior to hammering Leipzig, Madrid had beaten Sevilla by the same 4-1 scoreline with another improved performance after a month of unconvincing football and Jose Mourinho working through his usual intentionally distracting post-match antics. Madrid will seek to frustrate Barca here but they lack much cohesion, albeit may have a better idea of what they want to do without Vinicius Junior. That could see them at least score against the extremely high-line of the Catalans but Barcelona can pretty much out score anyone in Europe – perhaps bar PSG. As a result, another comfortable home win to pile the pressure on Mourinho is a decent bet for this one.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid tip: Barcelona to win & over 2.5 goals
